Dan Roman

DANIEL ROMANMarch 20, 1987 ? July 3, 2004 Danny ? our little athlete, trombone, drummer and guitar player, good student, fantastic son, great brother and nephew ? but most important ? SUPERB human being. Your life had just begun. Why were you taken from us so soon? Little Danny Huguito was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on March 20, 1987 to Puerto Rican parents, Judith and Miguel Roman. His parents had been childhood sweethearts who lived across the street from each other as teenagers. He we the spitting image of his dad ? physically and in his personality. During his infancy, Danny and his older brother, Miguelito, were watched by their grandparents, abuela Paca and abuelo Pepe and, if the truth be known, came to be their favorites. True Puerto Rican manners were instilled in these children ? asking ?Bendicion? traditional blessing from the adults and a love for good Puerto Rican cooking ? ?arroz blanco y habichuelas? white rice and beans. This family migrated to Miami in 1990. Since he began, Danny loved school. He loved reading and volunteered for any class projects. He was not timid or embarrassed to be involved in any extracurricular activity. He enjoyed sports the same as band, the same as cooking. Miguel Sr. joined the United States Navy and the family relocated to Middletown. Danny attended Kennedy and Forest Avenue elementary schools; Joseph Gaudet middle school and Middletown High. While at Gaudet, he enrolled in the band, playing trombone. His first school concert was the theme of ?Star Wars?. Danny also formed a band with five friends ? they named it ASHEN. He played rhythm guitar and according to friends ? they did quite well. At school football, baseball and wrestling teams. Truly, he was an all around individual. For all his teachers who encouraged and helped to form him ? our deepest gratitude.Four years ago, Miguel Sr. died of cancer. In fact, as irony would have it ? father and son passed away on a July 4th weekend. While watching his father deteriorate, Danny asked his aunt: ?Titi, why does God give so much pain to one family?? Today I can honestly say what I said then, ?Danny, I don?t know? only today the pain is worse.Our Danny is survived by his mother Judith and brother, Miguel. They will never forget how he took on the role of a caretaker: ?Mom when are you coming home.? ?Miguel, it will be alright, we can go to work with Uncle Jim ? He?s leaving his business to us. We?re like his sons.? ?Titi, don?t smoke.? There was some word of comfort and advice for everyone.Others who loved him dearly are in order of age not beauty: Tio Edgardo ? missed out on the opportunity to take him on his boat; Tio Eddie ? who could go head t head wrestling or arguing any topic; Tio Jesse ? who missed out on ?Putting that boy to work? with him; Tio Tony ? who can no longer flick his ears; Tio Jim ? who missed out on taking him to work for the summers, showing him the millwork business then parking outside Fudruckers until it opened so that each could get their burgers. When they came home Danny would say: ?I?m in heaven ? Uncle Jim took me to a place called ?Fudruckers?. Tia Carmen ? who missed out on a spending summers with Danny in Michigan and Tia Ibis who missed out on spending a lifetime with this beautiful young man. Had we only known that you would be taken from us so soon!He is also survived by still others who admired him for the example he set and regret the time not spent. They are his cousins, Jomar, Yomari, Joeli and Josue. Tania, Jelisse and Joelisse. Michael, Angela, Derick and Anthony. Natacha and Natalie. William and Alex. We will never forget you cousin ? your place in our family will never be filled.